Apparatus for treating materials.



No. 846,588. PATE-NTED MAR. 12, 1907.

0. E. MARK. APPARATUS FOR TREATING MATERIALS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 12, 1903.

' 3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

No. 846,588. PATENT-ED MAR. 12-, 1907.

T c. E. MARK.

APPARATUS FOR TREATING MATERIALS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 12, 1903.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

PATENTED MAR. 12. 1907.

I 0. B. MARK.

APPARATUSFOR TREATING MATERIA APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 12, 1903.

s SHEETS-SHEET s.

PATENT orrron.

UNITED srA'r s APPARATUS FOR' TREATING MATERIALS.

No. 846,5 es.

. To all whom," it may concern."

j Be it known that I, CHARLIE E. MARK, a

citizen of. the United States of America, and aresident of Chicago, Cook county, Illinois, have inventoda certain new and useful Improvement in Apparatus for Treating Mata rials, of which the following is a specification.

My invention. contemplates a turnaoehasving a hearth whereon any desired material may be subjected 'to heat and means independent of or above the hearth adapted to make directcontact with the materials being thus treated and adapted also to inject air or other'gases or fluids into the materials or substances thus subjected to the heat oi the furnace.

It also contemplates a furnace having a hearth whereon any desired materials. may

be subjected to. heat andv moving means ada ted to agitate or treat the materials whi e on the hearth and adapted also atsuch l by way-of the rabbles.

time to inject the air or other gases or fluids into the'said materials.

,Also, broadly considered, my invention contemplates a furnace having a hearth whereon materials may be subjected to heat, -meansfor'ag1tat1ng or stirring the materials,

means for producing relative movement between the hearth and the agitating or stirring means, and means for introducing air or other gases or fluids into the materials through w-hicl'iever of the said elements is given movement or motion,

The nature and advantages of my invention will, however, hereinafter more fully appear.

In the drawings, Figure l is a transverse section through an ore-roasting furnace embodying the principles of my invention. Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevation of a hearth, the rahbles, and a portion of I the rotary wheelor device for injecting air into the ore Fig. i. is a longitudinal section of one of the valves which are located'in the spokes of said wheel, showing.

. cross-sectioi1 taken on line 7 7, Fig. 6.

As thus-illustrated the furnace, as far as general COIlStILlCtlOIL 1s concerned,.can be of the usual and well-known character compris- Specification of Letters Patent. I Application filed September I2, l908. Serial No. 172,862.

Patented'Mareh 12,1907.

ing a hearth A adaptedtosupport the ore, i

.sid e walls through the opening D and is caused to move or progress slowly along this hearth by the action of the rabbles E, which latter travel in the direction indicatedby the arrow. Thus constructed the furnace is on the order of a reverberatory furnace, the heat being supplied in any suitable or desired manner.

B, of suitable masonry, and atop wallC. The ore is fed to the hearth or body.

In the treatment of ore sulfids, such as pulverized gold 'ore,.it is highly desirablelto stir and slowly agitate theore while it is. on the hearth and while it is being subjectedto a roasting action, and experience has shown that it is also highly desirable to at such time introduce or inject air into. the ore for the purpose of securing amore efiicient and efective oxidizing action. As a matter'of spe-e ci a1 improvement andwith a view to obtaining an eflicient oxidizing action the rabbles E are preferably in the forin of hollow bars e, mounted on arallel chains .or link belts 0. These link be ts are in. turn mounted, preferably, on sprocket-wheels c and the proper movement of the rabbles from one end to the other of the hearth is obtained by appl ing power to one of the shafts upon which t iese sprocket-wheels ariagmounted. Preferably and in order to.properlysupport the rabbl'es at the proper distance-just above the surface of the hearth the chains are also providedwith rolls or wheels e adaptedto travel upon the tracks or ways 6%. The rabble-bars 6 connect, the two chains and are preferably arranged at regular intervals along the latter,

it being understood that any suitable or desired number of these bars canb'e employed and that they can be arranged either closely together or some distance apart, as COIldltions may require, The-projections a which are secured to the rabblerbars, constitute the means for engaging and stirringor agitating the ore, are made hollow,..as shownm Fig. 7 and are provlded with small openings or perforat-ions e". The interior ofeach projection e communicates with the interior of the bar to which it is secured, as illustrated. It is:

also seen that these projections or. ;rabbles proper are preferably arranged -obliquely upon the rabble-bars,tasshowninFig. 6.

This arrangement is found to give a Lverysat isfactory and efficient. stirring or-agitating action. With the rabbles properthus-inade hollow and provided with small perforations air can be introduced through. them into the ore during the operatiggn of roasting. Thus while the rabbles are tfhvelin slowly through the ore, so as to not only agi ate and stir the ore, but also cause the slow'and steady rogressive movement of the ore over thesura'ce of the hearth and moving of the ore along the hearth, these rabbles vare-atthe same time serving as a -means for introducing the air .into the heated body of ore. In other words, the rabbles have a double function-to wit, the stirring and agitating of the ore and the injection of air into the ore. By'thuscombining' therabbling and the air-injecting means into one unitary structure a very efficient and satisfactory oxidizing action 1s obtained. a

It is obvious that any-suitable, known, or

- approved means can be employed for connecting the hollow rabbles with a suitable source of air-pressure. For exam 1e and as illustrated, the arrangementiinvo ves a rotary wheel having the hollow; spokes F and the hollow hub'f, the spokes .attheirends' being adap'tedto engage the openings e in the outer ends of the rabble-bars. Air isv supplied under pressure. to the hub of this wheel, and this pressure isthen-communi catedto the hollow rabbles as fast as the ends of the spokes F. engage the-ends of the rhollow rabble-bars. With this arrangement the said spokes are preferably com o'sed o'f',

.- telcscoping tubes held normally distended by springs f This provision ermits the spokes to slowly contract and te es'cope dur-" ing the first part of theirconnection' with the rabble-barsan'd to then slowly lengthendurthe latter part of their con'nection with the rabble-bars and before being disconnect ed from the latter. It is also-preferable with 4 an arrangement of this character to pro-vide each s oke with a flexible 'joint f and to connect t e different spokes by meansof springs f. In this way there is no binding or cramping during the engagement of the spokes with the rabble-bars,'=the said flexible joints permitting the desired amount of relative movement betweenthe spokes actually engaging the rabble-bars, and the said springs then tending to restore the spokes to their normal positions after being disengaged 'ordisconnected from the rabbles; As a matter of further and. special improvement each spoke is also preferably provided with an automatic valve device, whereby air can only' pass outwardly through the spokesafter they have been telesco ed or shortened to a certain extent. A simp e valve arrangement for this urposeis shown in Figs. 3 and 4. As thus-i1 ustrated, the valve comprises the apertured upper end 7 of the lower or smaller tube of the spoke and the lower end f of the outer and larger tube of the s oke. Normally the springj" keeps the tubes in the relative positions shown. in Fig; 3, the tube f closing the apertnr'a-d tube portion f Upon a slight telescoping or shortening of the spoke it will be seenthat the upper and larger tube having the lower end portion slides downwardly upon the smaller tube, thereby uncovering the apertures in the tube Iportionf and in this way establishing communication between the interior of the smaller tube and the interior of the larger tube. Thus in this way each rabble-bar after engaging the spoke forcesthe larger and outer tube downwardly to an extent to' automatically open the normally closed The air-pressure thus communicated to the interior of the rabbles through the hollow spokes of. the wheel and through the hollow rabble-bars then escapes through the openings e into the heated body of ore. It "is obvious that any other suitable or desired arrangement can be employed for connectingv the 'rabbles with the source of air-pressure and for-automatically contrdllin'g the same.

It will be readily understood that any other suitable arrangement can be employed for producing a relative movement between the rahbles and the bed or hearth of the furnace. Whatever the-arrangement, however, it will be seen that the air is preferably and desirably introduced into the ore-through the moving elements of -=the furnace. Preferably, though-Inot necessarily, these moving elements consist of the traveling rabbles, and consequently I find it preferable to introduce the air through these rabbles into the ore. Again, it will be seen that in the preheated body of ore is wholly independent of the hearth or body of the furnace and is pref- ,erably above the hearth and of such nature as to 1project downwardly and into the ore. It wi'l also 'be understood that my invention 'is applicable to furnaces of various kinds and to the treating of various materials other than ore or metals. For example, the more specific contemplation of my invention, which consists in employing the stirring or agitating means as the means forintroducing the .air or other, fluid into the materials to be 'treated, is obviously applicable to various processes and to the treatment of various materials and to various methods of manufacture.

I claim as my invention 1. An apparatus for treating granular or comminuted materials, comprising a suitable support for said materials and a moving member adapted for both agitating and injecting fluids into said materials togethergwilh suitable provisions for introduc'ng the ore too 05 ferred embodiment of my invention the arrangement for introducing the air into the or other materials to be treated, and for withdrawing the same, and means for subjecting the ore or other materials to heat whil: subject to the action of the said combined agitating and fluid-injecting means operated by endless chains.

2, Apparatus for treating granular or come minuted materials, comprising means for supporting and agitating said materials, said means including a movable member through which fluids are injected into said i'naterials together with suitable provisions for introducing the ore or other materials to be treated, and for withdrawing the same, and means for subjecting the ore or other materials to heat while subject to the action of the said combined agitating and fluid-injecting means operated by endless chains.

3. Apparatus for treating granular or comminut-ed materials, comprising means for supporting, heating, and agitating materials,

said means including a movable member through which fluids are injected into the said materials together with suitable provisions for introducing the ore or other materials to be treated, and for withdrawing the same, and means for subjecting the ore or other ma terials to heat while subjectto the action of the said [combined agitating and fluid-injecb ing means operated by endless chains.

4. A furnace having a suitable hearth for supporting granular or comminuted materials, a hollow agitating device adapted to be given movement directly above the hearth, so as to agitate whatever materials areto be treated on said hearth, and suitable devices for connecting'said agitat'ng device with a source offluid-pressure together with suitable provisions for introducing the ore or other materials to be treated, and for withdrawing the same, and means for subjecting the ore or other materials to heat while subject to the action of the said combined agitating and fluid-injecting means operated byendless chains. y

5. A furnace having a suitable hearth for supporting granular or comminuted m .terials, a hollow'a itator adapted to be given movement direct lyabove the hearth, so as to agitate the materials which are to be treated on saidhearth, and suitable devices for connecting said agitator With a source of air-pressure together'with suitable provisions for introducing the ore or othermaterials to be treated, and for withdrawing the same, and means for subjecting the ore or other ma terials to heat whilesubject to the action of the said combined agitating and fluid-inject ing means operatedby. endless chains,

v6. A hearth, hollow rabbles having outlets and adapted to be operated inany suitable manner, and suitable devices for connecting said jrabbles with a source of air pressure together a pair of parallel endless chains for oper;

roastingsfurnace having a suitable ating the rabbles together with suitable provisions for introducingthe ore or other materials to be treated, and for, withdrawing the same, and means for subjecting the ore 'or other materials to heat while subject to the'action of the said combined agitating and fluid-injecting means. a

7 A roasting-furnace having a suitable hearth, means for rabbling and introducing air into the body of ore resting on the hearth, said means including, air-injecting devices which are independent of. and arranged immediately above the hearth ,-andfa suitable arrangement for connecting the said air-injecting devices with asource of air-pressure together with a pair of parallel'endless chains for operating the rabbles together with suitable provisions for introducing the ore or other materials to be treated, and for with drawing the same, and means for subjecting the ore or other materials toheat While sub-- ject to the action of the said combined agitating and flqidfinjecting means.

8. A roasting-furnace comprising means for supporting, rabbling, and injecting air into the ore, said meansincludinga movable. member through which the air is injected into the ore. together-with a pair of parallel endless chains for operatingthe rabbles together with suitable provisions for introducing the ore or other materials tobetreated,

and for withdrawingithe same, and means for subjecting the ore or other materialscto' heat 'while subject tothe action of thesaid combined agitating and fluid-injecting means. 9. A roasting-furnace having. a suitable-- hearth, hollow rabbles provided with, Outlets and adapted to be operatedlin. any suitable manner, a source of air-pressure, and means including automatically-operated valves for connecting said rabbles withjthe source of air-pressure together with apairof arallel endless chains for operating the rab les together with suitable provisions forintroducing the ore or otherm'aterialsto be treated, and for Withdrawing the'same, and means forsubjectingthe ore or other materials to'heat While subject to the, aetionof theisaid -combined agitating and fluid-injecting meansi 10. A roasting-furnace comprising ahe'arth less chains, fluid-delivering irabbles carried and operatedby said chains, and means for supplying air to said rabbles. j

1.1. An apparatus for treating granular, or comminuted materials, "comprisinga suitable support for said -materials, and a' moving v-member adapted for both ,agitatingand injecting fluids" into said materials, together with suitable provisions whereby the com 'binedagitating and fluid-injecting means thus provided is alternately connected with for supporting the ore, a pair-of parallel endand disconnected from-"the 'sourceof air or.

other fluidpressure.

'12. Apparatus for v treating granular or comminuted materials, comprising means for supporting, heating and ag1tat1ng materials, said means including a movable memher through which fluids are injected into the source of fluid-pressure, together with suitable provisions whereby the combined agitatsaid materials, together with suitable provi-' sions whereby the combined agitating and' fluid-injecting means thus provided is alternately connected with and disconnected from the source of air or other fluid pressure.

13. A furnace having a suitable hearth for supporting granular or comminuted mate rials, a hollow agitating device adapted to be given movement directly abovethe hearth, so as to agitate whatever materials are to be treated on said hearth, and suitable devices for connecting said agitating device with a ing and fluid-injecting means thus provided is alternately connected with and discon nected from the source of air or other fluid pressure. a

14. A roasting-furnace having a suitable hearth, hollow. rabbles having outlets and" hearth, means for raibbling and introducing air into the body of ore resting on the hearth,

'said' means including air-injecting devices which are" independent of and arranged im-' mediately above the hearth, asuitable arrangement for connecting the said air-injecting devices with'a source of air-pressure, and suitable provisions whereby the combined agitating and'fluid-injecting means thus provided is alternately'connected with and disconnected from the source of air or other fluid pressure. I v

' 16. A roasting-furnace comprising means for supporting, rabbling and injecting air into the ore, said means including a movable mem- "ber through which the air is injected into the ore, together with power-transmitting connections for operating the rabbles, and suitable provisions whereby the combined agi tating and fluid-injecting means thus provided is alternately connected with and disconnected from the source of air or other fluid pressure.

17. A roasting-furnace having a suitable hearth, hollow rabbles provided with outlets and adapted to be operated in any suitable.

manner, a source of air pressu re, and means including automatically-operated valves for connecting said rabbles with the source of air-pressure, together with power-transmitting connections for operating the rabbles,

rials, a ho carried and operated by said chains,' and 1 means for supplying air tosaid rabbles, .to-. gether' with suitable provisions whereby the combinedagitating and fluid-injecting means thus provided is alternately connected'with ands-disconnectedfrom the source of air or otherfluid pressure.

19 A roasting-furnace provided with fluiddelivering mechanical rabbles, together with suitable provisions whereby the combined agitating and fluid-injecting means thus pro.-

vided is alternately connected with. and disconnected from the source of air or other fluid pressure.

20. A roasting furnace comprising a hearth and one or more fluid-delivering me chanical rabbles, substantially as shown and described, agitating and fluid -injectingmeans, together with suitable provisions whereby the combined agitating and fluidinjecting means thus provided 'is alternately connected with and disconnected from the source of air or otherfluidpressure. i

2.1-. An apparatus for treating granular or com-minuted materials, comprising a suitable support for said materials, and a moving member adapted forbothlagitating and injecting fluids into said materials, together ICO with suitable provisions whereby the combined agitating and fluid-injecting means thus provided is connected with the source of air or other fluid pressure-foronly a portion of its path of travel through the ore or other materials being treated.

2.2. A furnace having a suitable hearth for supporting granular 9r, icommin utedv mate- 'low agitatin device adapted to be given movement directlii=above the hearth, so as to agitate,whateversmaterials are to be treated on said hearth, and suitable devices for connectin said agitating device with a source of flui pressure,- together with suitable provisions whereby the combined' agitating and fluid-injecting means thus provided is connected with the source of air or.

other fluid pressure-for only a portionfoi its path of travel through. the ore or other mate rials being treated.

23. A r0 asting-furnace providedwith-fluiddelivering mechanical rabbles, together with suitable provisions whereby the combined agitating and fluid-injecting means thus provided is connected with the source of-air or'other fluid pressure for only a portion of its path of travel through the, ore or other materials being treated.

24. A roasting-fiirnace comprising ahearth and one or more fluid-delivering mechanical rabbles, substantially as shown and described, agitating and fluid-injecting means, together with suitable provisions whereby the combined agitating and fluid-injecting lneans' thus provided is connected with the source of air or other fluid pressure for only a portion of its path of travel through the oreor other materials being treated.

. 25. An apparatus for treating granular or comminuted materials, comprising a suitable support for said-materials, and a moving member adapted for both agitating and injecting fluids into said materials, together with suitable provisions whereby the combined agitating and fluid-injecting means thus provided receives air or other fluid through a rotary wheel-like member "adapted to have theends of its hollow spokes successively connected with the said means.

26. Apparatus for treating granular or comminuted materials, 001 uprising means for supporting, heating and agitating mate rials, said means including a movable memher through which fluids are injected into the said materials, together with suitable provisions whereby the combined agitating and fluid-injecting means thus provided receives air or other fluid through a rotary wheel-like member adapted to have the-ends -of its hollow spokes successively connected with the said means.

27. A furnace having a suitable hearth for supportin granular or comminuted mate rials, a hollow agitating device adapted to be given movementdirectly above, the hearth,

so as to agitate whatever materials are to be treated on said hearth, and suitable devices for connectin said agitating-device with a source of fluid-pressure, together with suitable provisions whereby the combined agi-' tatin and fluid-injecting meansthusprovider receives air or othcr fluid through a rotary wheel-like men'iber adapted to have the ends of its hollow spokes successively connected with the said means.

28. Aroasting-furnace having a suitable hearth, hollow rabbles having out-lets and adapted to lie-operated in any suitable manner, and suitable devices for connecting said rabbles with a source of air-pressure, together with powerstransmi-tting connections for operating the rabbles, together with suitable provisions whereby the combinedagitating and fluid-injecting means thus provided receives air or other fluid through a rotary wheel-like member adapted to have the ends of its hollow spokes successively connected with the said means.

29. '1A roasting-furnace having a suitable hearth, means for rabbling and introducing air into thehody of ore resting on the hearth, said means including air-injecting devices which are independent of and arranged immediately above the hearth, and a suitable arrangement for connecting the said airinjecting devices with'a source of air-pressure, together with power-transmitt-ing connections for operating the ra-bbles, and. suitable provisions hereby the combined agitating and fluid-injecting means thus provided rcceives ,air 'or other fluid through a rotary whecllike n-ieinbcr adapted to havetho ends of its hollow spokes successively connected with the said means.

30. A roasting-furnaee comprising means for supporting, rabbling and injecting air;

into the ore, said means including a movable member through which the air is injected into the ore, together with power-transmitting connections for operating the rabbles,

and suitable provisions whereby the corny, bined' agitating and-fluiddnjecting means thus provided receives air or other fluid through a rotary wheel-like member adapted to have the ends of its hollow spokes sue cessively connected with the said means.

31. A roasting-furnace having-a suitable hearth, hollow rabbles provided with outlets and adapted to be operated in any suitable manner, a source of air-pressure,.and means including automatically-operated valves for connecting said rabbles with the source of, air-pressure, together with power-transmitting connections for operating the rabbles, together with suitable provisions whereby the combined agitating and fluid-injecting means thus provided receives air or other fluid through a rotary wheel-like member adapted to have the ends of its hollow spokes successively connected with the said means. i

32. Aroasting-furnace comprisin ahearth' for supporting the ore, a pair 0 parallel endless chains, fluid-delivering rabblescarried and operated by said chains, and. means for supplying air to said rabbles, together with suitable provisions whereby the com:

bined agitating and fluid-injecting means thus provided receives air or other fluid through a rotary wheellike member adapted to have the ends of its hollow spokes successively connected with the said means.

33. A roasting-furnace comprising a hearth and one or more fluid-delivering mechanical rabbles, substantially as shown and described, agitating and fluid-injecting means, together with suitable provisions whereby the combined agitating and fluid-injecting means thus provided receives air or other fluid through a rotary wheel-like member adapted to have the ends of its hollow spokes successively connected with the said means.

34. Apparatus for treating granular or comminuted materials, comprising means for supporting and agitating said materials, said means including a movable member through which fluids are injected into the said materials, together with suitable provisions whereby the said combined agitating IIO 'r'ials, a hollow a said materials, togetherwith suitable pro visions'whereby the said combined agitating and fluid-injecting means passes through the ore or other-materials for only a portion of its path of travel. V

36. A furnace having a suitable hearth for supporting granular or 'comminuted mateitator adapted to be given movement directly above the;hearth, so as to path of travel. I 37. A roasting-furnace having a suitable agitate the materials which are to be treated on said hearth, and suitable devices for con-' necting said agitator with a source of airpressure, together; with suitable provisions whereby the said combined agitating and fluid-injecting means passes'through the ore or other materials for only a portion of its hearth, hollofw rabbles having outlets and adapted to be operated in any suitable man-.'

ner, and suitable'devices-for connecting said r'abbles with vaso'u'rce'of 'air pressure, t o

gather with power-transmitting connections for operating the rabbles, and suitable pmi visions whereby the said combined agitating and fluid-injecting means passes through the its path of-travel.

38. A roastingiurnacehaving a suitablehearth, means for rabbling and introducing.

. airintothe body of ore resting on the hearth,

said means including .airm3ecting devices which are independent'of and arranged immediately above the hearth, and a suitable {arrangement for connecting the-said air-injecting devices with a source'of air-pressure, together with power-transmitting connections for operating the rabbles, and suitable provisions whereby the said combined agitatmg and fluid-injecting meanspasses through the ore or other materials for only a portion of its path 01 travel.

I 39. A. roastingfurnace comprising means ore or other materials"foronly aportion of for supporting, rabbling and injecting air .into the ore, said means including a movable member through which the air is inj ected into the ore, together with power-transmitting connections for operating the rahbles, and suitable provisions whereby the said com-' bined agitating and fluid-injecting meanspasses. through the ore or other materials for i only a portion of its path of travel.

40. A roasting-furnace having a suitable hearth, hollow rabbles provided with outlets and adapted to be operated in any suitable 'manner, a source of air-pressure, and means including automatically-operated valves for connecting said rabbles with the source-of air pressure, together with power-transmitting connections. for operatingthe' rabbles, and

suitable provisions whereby the said com-.

'bined' agitating and fluid-injecting, means passes through the ore of other materials for only a'portion of its path 'of' travel.

- 41. Aroas'tingfurriace comprising a hearth for 'supportin the we, a pair of parallel endless chains', uid deliver'ing rabbles. carried and operated by said chains, and means for supplyingair to said'rabble's, together with suitable 'rovisions' whereby the s'aid'corn.

bined aglt'ating and fluidiinjecting means passes through the ore or other materials to only a ortionof its path of" travel. 42.- A-roasting' furnace 'omprisin g ahearth and one or more fluid-delivering mechanical rabbles, subst'anti ally as shown and described,

agitating and fluid-injecting means, together withsultable" provisionsflwhereby the said combined agitating and fi'uid inj ecting me ans passes through the ore or other materials for only a portion of its pathiof travel. n a roasting-furnace, the combination and means for automatically and alternately connecting the rabbles withthe source of airpres'sure and disconnecting-the same there from.

Illinois, this 4th day oi September, 1903.

CHARLIE E. MARK.

\Vitnesses':

A. F. D n'Arin,v WM. A. -HARDERS.

Signed by me at Chicago, Cookcounty,

.90" of hollow rabbles; a source of air-pressure, 

